LDA Strategic Goals & Objectives

Enhance the capability and productivity of TBD researchers

• Write for grants and hold fundraisers for Lyme disease research
• Develop a direct mail campaign for Lyme disease research funding
• Solicit Request for Proposals, RFPs, and award grants for Lyme and other tick-borne disease research, especially for chronic Lyme disease research
• Utilize national spokesperson, Oscar-nominated actress Mary McDonnell, in national fundraising campaigns
• Provide input into and promote legislative efforts to fund Lyme disease research

Reduce the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases (TBD) throughout the general population

• Provide public forums to present Lyme disease experts
• Participate in public forums as a speaker
• Participate in health fairs
• Produce educational videos for website
• Update and reprint LymeR Primer pamphlet for free distribution
• Maintain a toll free information line
• Maintain a website and links to other Lyme disease sites
• Help develop and promote legislative efforts to reduce the spread of Lyme, through research and education
• Provide free literature in Spanish, including on the website
• Elicit cooperation with government agencies who share the same goal

Reduce the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases in children

• Participate in school in-services on Lyme disease for educator
• Continue Professional Development provider status for State of New Jersey for educating teachers on Lyme disease
• Distribute free ABC’s of Lyme Disease pamphlet for parents and educators
• Develop, publish, and publicize How A Tick Can Make You Sick Powerpoint module for schools to be used free directly from LDA website (complete)
• Continue to raise/distribute funds for children without insurance through LymeAid 4 Kids
• Speak at conferences on the issues of children with Lyme disease
• Support children’s education materials and forums sponsored by others, including monetary support
• Provide input into and promote legislative efforts to reduce the spread of Lyme and TBDs and their complications relating to children

Educate physicians about Lyme and other tick-borne diseases

• Host medical conferences offering Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for physicians
• Facilitate/encourage grand rounds on tick-borne diseases
• Provide free brochures to physicians for them to distribute
• Facilitate communications among physicians and researchers worldwide by keeping database upgraded, providing networking reception after annual conference, hosting small researcher meetings or “think tanks”
• Work with physician groups who share common interest to stop the spread of tick-borne diseases.
• Create case maps and incidence maps for website publication using CDC numbers for 1990-2007 (complete)

Facilitate Lyme disease patient wellness

• Maintain toll free line for automated Lyme disease information
• Maintain free automated doctor referrals
• Educate patients about dangers of TBDs
• Refer patients to other services related to Lyme disease

Improve cooperation with public officials on tick-borne disease strategies

• Meet with state officials including health commissioners, legislators, others to raise awareness and keep them informed of LDA work on the disease and on patient and doctor concerns
• Invite health officials to LDA medical conferences and public forums including as speakers
• Speak at health department and other official Lyme disease forums
• Provide doctors as speakers for public official forums
• Maintain a current data base of physician and researcher contact information
• Provide input into and promote legislative efforts to fund TBD research
• Attend or arrange speakers for government conferences on tick-borne diseases.

Integrate other groups into LDA nationwide effort

• Speak at forums sponsored by other groups
• Support other groups’ educational activities with materials, publicity, LDA personnel, and monetarily when possible
• Increase nationwide travel for improved relationships
• Add additional affiliates, chapters, supporters when feasible
• Hold annual LDA chapter, affiliate, supporter meeting